Camera Obscura

The CameraObscura is believed to be among the earliest optical inventions, theoretically dating back at least to the ancient Greek era. Academics believe camera obscura devices may have been used by Renaissance painters such as Leonardo Da Vinci to project live images onto canvases to help them paint, and in Victorian and Edwardian times they became a popular seaside attraction in both Europe and the US.Such was the case with the Santa Monica Camera Obscura pictured below: Built in 1898 by Robert F. Jones, and given to the city in 1907, the camera spent almost 50 years documenting life on the Santa Monica beach. In 1955 the mechanism was installed in the nearby Adult Recreation Center, now a City-run art lab. Many images of the popular beach community throughout the years are on display to compare to the current view.Once such a common beachside attraction, there are now only a handful of functional public camera obscuras in the US. Just a quick walk from the pier the Santa Monica Camera Obscura remains a little known treat for those interested in photography, 19th century mechanics, or spying on oblivious beach-goers.

A pictorial timeline of Camera Obscuras:

Camera Obscura 1855, depicting an artist drawing from an image from the camera obscura in the form of a tent.

Inside a small room you will find a large white disk in the center and a wheel that allows you to steer the lens and mirror contained in the turret above, projecting an image onto the disk of whoever and whatever happens to be passing by outside.

Famous Camera Obscura, Santa Monica, Calif.Postcard of a famous Camera Obscura, Santa Monica, California. The structure is a green building with a double stairway leading up to a second floor. An open door is between the two staircases. The surrounding grounds are landscaped with large bushes and flowers planted half circles. In the background to the left is a pier with large buildings built upon it. A woman wearing a hat walks in the foreground.; "The Famous Camera Obscura was made by Robert F. Jones, he being a nephew of the late Senator John P. Jones, the founder of the City of Santa Monica. It was given to the City of Santa Monica in 1907 and is operated by the Santa Monica-Ocean Park Chamber of commerce, no charge being made. Many thousands of people have visited this building during this period. To the left is the Beautiful La Monica Ballroom." -- printed on back.